SANTA CLARA — George Kittle was in in character after a 37-20 win Saturday over the Washington Commanders.
He wore a Santa hat, a crimson sweater with the phrase `good’ and was unfastened and full of life as ordinary, regaling the assembled media with the story of how he stole a landing from teammate Ray-Ray McCloud.
It got here on a 33-yard go to the put up from quarterback Brock Purdy, who believed he was throwing the ball to McCloud.
Kittle’s job was to cross the sector, thereby opening up the world for McCloud. As an alternative, Kittle’s eyes received massive and he received grasping.
“Large open area,” Kittle mentioned. “I’m not going to run and get coated . . . When (McCloud) received over my shoulder I assumed it was the protection attempting to get the ball and it really scared me. The he mentioned, `You stole my landing.’ ”
Everyone had a very good snigger, which is customary working process when Kittle is round. The landing gave the 49ers’ a 14-7 lead within the third quarter, and he added a 48-yard catch and run off a reverse roll by Purdy to place the 49ers up 21-7.
It’s a very good signal for the 49ers that Kittle is someplace close to his bodily peak, or as shut as one could be as a decent finish within the NFL. He caught six passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns — his second straight sport with two scores.
He’s delivering aches and pains quite than receiving them, and it’s exhibiting in his play. It hasn’t taken rookie quarterback Brock Purdy lengthy to determine Kittle is a game-changer, simply as Kittle was for Jimmy Garoppolo or another quarterback when wholesome.
“He makes my job straightforward,” Purdy mentioned. “He wins man-to-man matchups. You give him a very good ball, he’ll take off. George is extraordinarily explosive, greater than individuals suppose. He does a terrific job after the catch and that’s the place my mindset is at. I’m going via my development, however I do know if I get the ball to George it may very well be an explosive play.”
Kittle is coming off a four-catch, 93-yard sport in Seattle with two touchdowns. And whereas Kittle has had larger days and greater video games, they don’t typically happen this late within the season. Few gamers work as onerous at sustaining their our bodies, however Kittle in recent times has been lower than one hundred pc because the season winds down.
How does he really feel now?
“It feels fantastic,” Kittle mentioned. “Coach Shanahan all the time says you construct a callous all year long, your physique will get used to the hits, you get used to the grind. However not having to take care of an Achillies’ (final yr), or random knee stuff, I’ve been very lucky. You’ve received to get fortunate in soccer typically.”
Kittle got here out of coaching camp with a groin pressure that price him the primary two video games, and when he did return to motion didn’t appear to be the identical participant who had back-to-back seasons of 1,377 yards in 2018 and 1,053 in 2019 that enabled him to money in with a five-year, $75 million contract extension.
Quick ahead to the final two weeks, and Kittle seems to be pretty much as good as ever.
“He began out the yr a bit of banged up, and it took a him a bit of time to come back again and be in soccer form,” coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned. “However he’s taking part in nice now within the run and go sport and it’s nice to get him some balls even the one he intercepted from Ray-Ray.”
Following the sport, Kittle talked about how the 49ers draw energy from edge rusher Nick Bosa, who added two extra sacks and foiled a two-point conversion with one other towards Washington.
The identical may very well be mentioned for Kittle. He performs with an enthusiastic physicality that teammates discover contagious.
Jingle Bell Brock!@brockpurdy13 x @gkittle46
📺 #WASvsSF on CBS
📱 NFL+ https://t.co/KTh0i461x9 pic.twitter.com/sXz2V1FRMo— San Francisco 49ers – x (@49ers) December 24, 2022
“Kittle is a superb chief. Guys corral round him. He brings nice power on daily basis,” defensive deal with Arik Armstead mentioned. “He’s enjoyable. He’s nerdy at occasions which makes it a number of enjoyable to be round him and he units the tone week in and week out even when it doesn’t present up on the stat sheet. He’s a presence.”
Purdy whose locker is close to the identical nook as Kittle within the 49ers locker room, depends on the tight finish to maintain issues from getting overly severe.
“Generally if we get uptight he’s the man who’s going to place a smile in your face so I’m very lucky to have him within the locker room. He brings nice power and good vibes.”
Kittle very practically had a 3rd landing within the fourth quarter, however he caught Purdy’s low go on the 1-yard line. That arrange a 1-yard rating by Christian McCaffrey. Kittle, who went to Iowa, isn’t shy about needling Purdy about having gone to rival Iowa State.
“I threw it a bit of brief, however you’ll be able to’t give a Hawkeye too many touchdowns in a sport,” Purdy mentioned.